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The original concept for All Bar One was developed by two enterprising ladies, who wanted a bar ideal for women to have a drink and something to eat without the intimidating confines of a traditional pub. Little wonder, that the place has huge glass frontage, open spaces and interiors that are bright and airy. The first outlet opened in Sutton in 1994, became a huge hit, and there has been no looking back since. Today there are close to forty outlets, including one in Cologne, Germany. Irrespective of location, they have identical wooden flooring, menu and service. Antique mirrors, natural colours and reclaimed wooden furniture combine classic and modern styles well.

The menu has tapas from different parts of the world, including the Mediterranean region, Italy and the East. One can also have a variety of burgers, sandwiches and salads. Baked goats' cheese parcels, flat mushroom and halloumi burgers are highlights of the menu, as is the All Bar One beef and coriander burger, a house speciality. With the emphasis being as much on drink as the food, many outlets display a wall of champagne and wines, with beers and spirits thrown in for good measure. The blackboards on the wall often flaunt the impressive selections.

The success formula of All Bar One has been faith in doing simple things well, and that is what they are best known for. A place that is hard to define, for it is not just a bar, restaurant, café or pub, but a special place where people can unwind alone or in company.

The Full Moon is a cosy village pub with open fires in the winter and glorious gardens in the summer. The food served includes good English classics such as shepherds pie with cauliflower cheese and fresh mint sauce and faggots with mushy peas, mash and onion gravy, alongside contemporary dishes such as aromatic duck pancakes and wild venison with beetroot 'n squeak and black pepper sauce. There are many plans in place for modernising the interior whilst maintaining its genuine English pub charm.

Chino Latino's 'logo' is a pair of red chillies, which goes some way towards explaining their international label. A fusion of Far East with modern Japanese might be more specific, but when it comes to drink one of their hottest items is Sherwood Dragon, a blend of sake, lime and ginger.

For starters try the miso soup made with a thick, salty, nutty red bean paste, the Chicharone fish fritters or the Edamame with black bean sauce. The Japanese influence is not long in making itself felt and a presentation of mixed seafood tempura is always popular, closely followed by the black cod tempura. Dim sum, sashimi, ceviches and sushi rolls all offer good selections with oyster shooters a steady favourite.

Under the general heading of grills and thrills there is a fillet of beef served with a trio of sauces, truffle, chilli jam and plum wine teriyaki sauce, delightful slow-cooked spare ribs with sweet potato and grilled chicken with mango and tamarind sauce. A special treat is the jungle curry with lobster, shrimp and scallops, served in a half lobster shell with rice skewers and be sure not to ignore the green tea soba noodles.

The range of tastes and twists on more conventional presentations as offered at Chino Latino is worthy of an appreciative clientele and the signs are that this is happening both here in Nottingham and at their other outlets in Leeds and London.